Disney's Contemporary Resort opened October 1, 1971. In its planning stages, the resort was originally called Tempo Bay Resort. The Contemporary Resort guest rooms were assembled at an off-site plant at the rate of about 15 rooms a day. Construction was overseen by the United States Steel Corporation (CONSTRUCTION VIDEO). The rooms were filled with furniture and then inserted into the sides of the 14-story building. In the original concept for Disney's Contemporary Resort, guests would be able to walk to the Magic Kingdom's Tomorrowland.

Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

THE NORTH GARDEN WING WAS DEMOLISHED IN 2007 TO MAKE WAY FOR BAY LAKE TOWER​

NORMAL MONORAIL OPERATING HOURSSubject to change without notice and can vary daily. The sign near the escalator pictured below will list the current hours.
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Epcot: 8:00am - 1:00am or 1 hour after the Magic Kingdom closes (whichever time is earlier).

Resort monorail: 6:30am -1 hour after the Magic Kingdom closes.

YOU HAVE ARRIVED

DISNEY'S CONTEMPORARY RESORT AND BAY LAKE TOWER

4600 North World Drive, Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32830(407) 824-1000CHECK-IN: AFTER 3 PM for the Contemporary and AFTER 4 PM for Bay Lake Tower. You can check-in and get your package features, KTTW card/MagicBand with charging privileges, etc... after 6 AM, even if your room is not ready.CHECK-OUT: BEFORE 11 AM​

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Guest laundry facilities are located on the 2nd floor of the South Garden Wing.

In spring of 2015, WDW laundry rooms were converted from a cash payment system to a credit/debit card-only payment system. Guests now have the ability to remotely check their laundry's status and set-up alerts via the internet.

Standard-size washers and dryers cost $2.00 per load. (Helpful hint: Don't overload the dryer as it will take much longer for clothes to dry). Laundry rooms are open 24 hours.

Single use packets of detergent and fabric softener are available for purchase with a credit or debit card.

Dry cleaning and valet laundry services are also available and can be arranged by pressing Housekeeping on your telephone. For same day service, call by 8:30 a.m. for pickup. Items will be returned after 7:00 p.m. that day. Dry cleaning and valet laundry services prices are listed on the laundry card found hanging in the room closet.

Include your name, check-in date, and reservation number on the label. You may have to pay a fee at pick-up since CR is a convention resort.

WDW SHIPPING AND POSTAL SERVICES:

Send and receive packages of all sizes during your stay at Walt Disney World Resort.

Parcel Handling (Incoming and Outgoing)

Your package can be picked up from or delivered to most locations at Walt Disney World Resort. You must be present to accept delivery. Handling fee covers one pickup or delivery only. (Contact the Front Desk if your Resort hotel does not have a Business Center.)

For same-day shipping, outbound parcels must be received in the package room by 4:30 PM Monday  Friday. Items received after 4:30 PM on Friday will be shipped on Monday unless special handling has been requested. Saturday shipping services are available until 11:30 AM with advance notice. Special rates apply.

Guests may drop off their completed/called-in packages at the Front Desk or Concierge. The Front Desk/Concierge will deliver them to the Business Center for shipping at no additional charge. Or if you prefer, you may bring your packages to the Business Center yourself.

Unless specified, all items sent from Walt Disney World Resort will be sent by air courier service, unless otherwise specified by the Guest.

Parcel Handling Fees

Handling fee includes receipt of item from carrier, storage for up to 3 days, onetime Guest package delivery or pickup, placing item with carrier for shipment, and tracking. Postage is not included.

Bay Lake View: An unobstructed view of Bay Lake and the pool and marina below.

Magic Kingdom/Theme Park View: A view of the Magic Kingdom, Seven Seas Lagoon and the parking area below.

BOOKABLE GARDEN WING VIEWS:Standard View: A view of the parking lot with the monorail beyond.

Garden View: A view of the pool/marina, canal or Bay Lake.

~When added together, the first two numbers of your Tower room equal the floor.

~When lying on the bed in an odd-numbered Tower room on the Bay Lake side, you will face toward WL, Epcot and the South Garden Wing. Odd-numbered Magic Kingdom View beds face toward the MK.

~All rooms have a daybed. All Tower rooms have a balcony. Only first floor Garden Wing rooms have a patio, none have a balcony.

~The interiors of Tower and Garden Wing Standard Rooms are identical, however, booking categories do vary. In addition to Standard Rooms, the Tower includes Club Level Suites and five Standard Rooms on the 14th floor (Tower Club) and Standard Club Level Rooms on the 12th floor (Atrium Club). The Garden Wing offers Deluxe Rooms (sleep 4), One Bedroom Suites (sleep 6) and a Hospitality Suite (sleeps 7).

GARDEN WING DELUXE ROOMS:There are three Garden Wing Deluxe Rooms. Each room has a king bed and a queen sleeper sofa. While a Standard CR Room is about 436 square feet, a Deluxe Room measures about 629 square feet. Unlike a standard room, the bathroom also has a shower stall in addition to the tub/shower combination.​

If you arrive by car, let the bellman know you are a club level guest. They will either instruct you to check-in in the lobby, (this might happen if they are very busy or if it is before 7 AM or after 10 PM when club level is closed) or a club level curbside greeter will greet you outside.

The CM will check your name against a list, might ask you for ID, and will then call upstairs and let a concierge know you have arrived. If someone needs to park a car, simply have the bellman store your luggage then park the car and the curbside CM will wait to take you upstairs until your party is all together.

Once upstairs on the 12th or 14th floor, you will check-in at the concierge desk between the hours of 7 AM and 10 PM.

If your room is ready, you will be escorted to your room. If it is not ready, you will be called or texted when it is ready. You are welcome to use the lounge even if your room isn't ready. You will be given your KTTW card and/or MagicBand.

Your park tickets and dining plan (if applicable) will be loaded onto your KTTW card/MagicBand even if your room is not ready. You have full lounge access from the time you check-in (as early as 6:30 AM) until 10 PM (when the lounge closes) of your check-out day.

Club level guests have the same amenities as all guests, PLUS:~Two robes (additional robes can be requested).

~IPO and concierge staff available prior to and during your visit for reservations and vacation planning.

~Welcome gift:

~Access to the exclusive Atrium Club lounge when staying on the 12th floor and access to the Tower Club lounge when staying on the 14th floor. Featuring daily continental breakfast, snacks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, appetizers and desserts. Food and beverages can be taken back to your room.

~Automatic nightly turn-down service which includes replenishment of towels and toiletries, disposing of trash, closing the curtains and dimming the lights

TOWER CLUBTOWER CLUB/14TH FLOOR MAP:

~The Tower Club has a total of sixteen rooms: Five Standard rooms (two King and three Queen) and eleven suites comprised of One and Two Bedroom Suites, a Vice Presidential Suite and a Presidential Suite. When booking a Tower Club KING room, the confirmation will read: Standard Club Level - KING ("CW"), There is no guarantee of a Magic Kingdom or Bay Lake View with a Queen request, however, both King rooms face the MK. When booking a suite, you will be assigned either a Bay Lake or Magic Kingdom View. For Queens and Suites, you can request a view, though it can't be guaranteed.

~The lounge on the 12th floor (Atrium Club) is bigger and has more seating then the 14th floor Tower Club. Three Standard rooms were used to build the 12th floor lounge. There are three balconies on the MK side for Club Level guests to watch the fireworks.

From Cara Goldsbury's book, The Luxury Guide to Walt Disney World and her website:

One-Bedroom Suiteshave 1,428 square feet and come with either a Bay Lake or a Magic Kingdom view. The living area has a modern décor with soothing charcoal-toned carpeting, four easy chairs, sofa, six-person dining table, oversized flat-panel TV, desk with computer, wet bar, and a deep balcony. A full bath with single sink and shower sits off the marble entry hall. The suites bedroom is similar to a standard-type guest room with two queen beds, but with a bath slightly larger than a standard with tub and sink in one room and a toilet and sink in another area. A king bedded guest room can be added to make this a two-bedroom suite with 1,892 square feet.

The two-bedroom, three-bath Presidential Suitesports 2,061 square feet. Deep balconies span the length of the suite and afford spectacular Magic Kingdom views. A spacious living room decorated in a neutral color scheme comes with a wet bar and microwave, sofa bed, two easy chairs with ottomans, large flat-panel TV, desk with computer, and six-person dining table. Off the dining area is a two-person bar that opens into the suites kitchen with full-size refrigerator, wet bar sink, and microwave. Guests love the huge king-bedded master bedroom with its large sitting area, TV, oversized bureau, two easy chairs with ottomans, and full-size working desk, as well as a mammoth whirlpool bathtub, separate marble shower with wall jets, double sinks, two closets, and vanity desk inside the walk-in closet. The second bedroom comes with two queen-size beds and single-sink bath. An additional full bath is off the marble entry hall.

The two-bedroom, three-bath Vice Presidential Suiteat 1,985 square feet has fun contemporary furnishings, fantasy lighting fixtures, and divine dove gray carpeting. Off the foyer is a single-sink full bath with shower and in the living area (believe it or not its smaller than the living area in a one-bedroom suite) is a six-person dining table, wet bar and microwave, two easy chairs, sleeper sofa, desk with computer, oversized flat-panel TV, and deep balconies spanning the length of the suite with views of Bay Lake and Epcots Spaceship Earth. There are two queen-size beds and working desk in the sizable master bedroom and a king in the second bedroom. The master bathrooms tub is sans a whirlpool, but there is a shower with wall jets, bidet, vanity desk, and walk-in closet.​

YCFAN reports: "I contacted the resort and there is a connecting door to the presidential suite but it is to another two bedroom suite. That suite then has a connecting door to a one bedroom suite. So you could get a five bedroom suite by booking all of them. The only way to get three bedrooms is to book the two bedroom and the one bedroom but then you can't get the presidential. Of course you could always book the presidential and the one bedroom but they wouldn't be connecting." ​

All guests must now pass through security on the fourth floor before boarding the elevator or escalator to the monorail platform. This is the only security checkpoint guests will pass through when going directly to the MK.

Stops in order from CR:

~TRANSPORTATION AND TICKET CENTER: From here, disembark, go up ramp to Epcot monorail or remain on monorail to...

~POLYNESIAN: Walkway behind Great Ceremonial House to both the TTC and GF or remain on monorail to...

~GRAND FLORIDIAN: The GF walkway does NOT go to the MK. Remain on monorail to...

~MAGIC KINGDOM: Disembark for MK, remain on monorail to CR, take walkway to CR or boat to Ft. Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge or ferry to TTC.

The RESORT MONORAIL operates from 7 AM until one hour after regular park closing. The monorail no longer operates after evening Extra Magic Hours. During special events, such as MNSSHP and MVMCP nights, the resort monorail runs until 30 minutes after the event ends. The Resort Monorail runs from the TTC to Poly, then on to the GF and from there to the MK, and finally, CR.

The EPCOT MONORAIL operates about one hour prior to park opening until one hour after regular park closing. The Epcot Monorail runs between the TTC and Epcot.

The EXPRESS MONORAIL TO THE MK operates about one hour prior to opening until one hour after regular park closing. The Express Monorail runs between the TTC and the Magic Kingdom.

RESORT BUSESRESORT BUSES to Disney's Animal Kingdom and Disney's Hollywood Studios. There is no bus service between monorail resorts and Epcot or from the CR to the MK. Buses begin operating to the parks one hour prior to park opening (except for early ADR buses - see below) and run until the park is empty.

RESORT BUSES to Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach begin 30 minutes prior to water park opening and run until the park is empty.

FANTASIA GARDENS buses are available at any park or from Downtown Disney only by boarding the bus to the Swan/Dolphin (or any Boardwalk area resort). From there, take the walkway from the Swan/Dolphin to Fantasia Gardens.

WINTER SUMMERLAND GOLF can be walked to from Blizzard Beach or if Blizzard beach is closed, you can take the Coronado Springs bus and tell the driver. To return, tell a cast member at Winter Summerland and they will notify an Epcot bus to pick you up.

DISNEY'S WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS complex bus is only available from Disney's Hollywood Studios and operates 30 minutes prior to DHS opening until 8:30 PM.

BUSES FOR EARLY ADRs(Advance Dining Reservations)Buses for the Magic Kingdom and Magic Kingdom Resort Area will start running at 6:30am DAILY.

Buses for Epcot (Princess Breakfast at Norway) will start running at 7:00-7:15am DAILY.

This information is valid EVERY DAY, and for ALL DISNEY RESORTS serviced by Bus transportation.

These buses are for Breakfasts only, and should not be used for general park access. Always let the driver know where you are going upon boarding the bus. Most times, the driver will be able to take you directly (ie: Contemporary, for Chef Mickey's) but sometimes this is not possible. As such, you should always allow time for a connection when going Resort to Resort. Actual arrival times will vary by location.~AllEars

WALKWAY TO THE MAGIC KINGDOMbegins next to the CR bus stop, in front of BLT. The walk to the walkway/MK security check-point area takes about 5 minutes with another 5 minute walk from there to the MK entrance.

2. Upon landing at Orlando International Airport, skip baggage claim and proceed to the Disney's Magical Express Welcome Center in the Main Terminal Building, B side, Level 1. Disney's Magical Express service will collect your luggage and deliver it directly to your Walt Disney World hotel room within 3 hours after you check in at the resort. Luggage delivery service provided by Disney's Magical Express is available for flights arriving between 5:00 am and 10:00 pm daily. For airport arrivals after 10:00 pm, guests may collect their luggage at Baggage Claim and transport it with them on the motor coach.

3. International Guests flying into Orlando International Airport from another country must follow the U.S. Customs and Border Protection process and claim luggage after disembarking the plane. After completing the process, proceed to the Disney's Magical Express Welcome Center in the Main Terminal Building, B side, Level 1. Disney's Magical Express service will recollect your luggage and deliver it directly to your Walt Disney World hotel room within 4 hours after you check in at the resort.

4. Sit back and relax as Disney transports you to your Disney Resort hotel in an air-conditioned motor coach.

5. As your vacation draws to a close, you'll receive a Transportation Notice advising you of the pick-up time and place for your motor coach ride back to Orlando International Airport. Please note that it is your responsibility to bring your luggage to the pick-up point. Please note that you cannot reserve the luggage service exclusively. You must be present on the motor coach to have your luggage transported to a Walt Disney World hotel.

TWO POOLS are available to Contemporary guests. Only registered BLT guests may use the BLT secured access pool.

The MAIN POOL resembles Mickey Ears and has a 17-foot slide and two whirlpool spas. The pool is not zero entry. There is a children's splash area nearby and a free daily afternoon pool party.

Seasonal feature pool hours:Courtesy of GADisneyDad14

BAY LAKE Quiet/Bullseye POOL

Courtesy of GADisneyDad14

BEACH

FOURCABANASare available for rent at the Contemporary. Two cabanas are located next to the feature pool (pictured below) and the other two cabanas are located next to the Bay Lake/Bullseye Pool. Standard cabanas with amenities can be reserved and include furniture, electronics and refreshments. Standard cabana amenities include:

2 padded lounge chairs2 padded straight-backed chairsPlush towels32-inch LCD television with cable access and optional earphonesDVD/CD/MP3 playerPhone for internal Resort callsCeiling fanMini refrigerator stocked with complimentary sodas and waterFruit basket (may not be available without advance reservation)Private dining and poolside massages are available at an additional cost.

For reservations, please call (407) WDW-PLAY or (407) 939-7589. Amenities featured may vary by location.

2014 updated cabana information from SRUAlmn:

"I called the Disney recreation line on June 12 and they clarified some of this information. There are still 4 cabanas. They do NOT have the option to rent them without the amenities. They are $158 for the half day option and $233 for the full day."

Courtesy GADisneyDad14

SAMMY DUVALL'S WATERSPORTS CENTRE
AND THE BOAT NOOK MARINAMOTORIZED BOATS AND SEA RAYCERS are available for rent. Both DVC and Annual Pass discounts can be applied. Other watersports are available, such as tubing, guided fishing excursions, water skiing and parasailing.

TWO HARDCOURT TENNIS courts are located adjacent to Bay Lake Tower. Racquets and balls are available at the Boat Nook Marina or Community Hall at BLT.

A JOGGING TRAIL loops around Bay Lake Tower and the Garden Wing (just under one mile)

There is one sand VOLLEYBALL COURT on the beach at the Contemporary. Volleyballs are free and available at the marina.

The GAME STATION ARCADE features fun games for the whole family. Tickets are earned and can be redeemed for prizes at the arcade. The arcade features a cashless system where you can purchase a play card filled with game credits using cash, credit or your Key to the World card. Once purchased, simply enter the card into a videogame to access the game credits and play the game. Play cards are rechargeable, but can only be used at the Contemporary arcade. The arcade is located on the 4th floor Concourse next to Fantasia Market and across from Fantasia.

Independent childcare provider KID'S NITE OUT offers one-to-one babysitting in the comfort of your Walt Disney World Resort hotel room. Arts and crafts, reading and playing games are among the fun-filled activities for children 6 months to 12 years of age. To contact Kid's Nite Out, call (407) 828-0920, 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM, 7 days a week.

THE PIRATES AND PALS FIREWORKS VOYAGE sets sail from the dock at the Contemporary. You'll enjoy an amazing view of Wishes and the Electrical Water Pageant. The event starts about 1 hour and 15 minutes prior to the start of Wishes.

ELECTRICAL WATER PAGEANTEvery evening at 10:10 PM, Disneys Electrical Water Pageant stops in Bay Lake near the marina. The 14 illuminated floats, accompanied by music, was created for the dedication of the Polynesian Resort in October 1971 and it can be viewed from the Bay Lake side of the CR Tower and Bay Lake Tower, the beach, the dock for the Blue Flag boat launches and from the Garden Wing rooms that front Bay Lake.

MOVIES UNDER THE STARSShown daily at 8 PM or 9 PM. Check the Recreation Activities flyer in your room for the current movie schedule or the activity calendar hyperlink below.

From AllEars:~There are 167 miles of post-tensioning cable running through the concrete slabs. These cables could stretch from Bay Lake Tower to Disneys Vero Beach Resort and back.

~There are 1,398 tons of reinforcing steel, known as rebar, within the structure. This is equal to the weight of 254 full-grown elephants.

~Bay Lake Tower rests on a foundation of more than 800 concrete piles that are 16 in diameter and extend 70 into the ground. Stacked on top of one another, these would reach more than 10 miles into the sky.

~Although demolition of the North Garden Wing of the Contemporary began in the spring of 2007 and construction began in the summer of 2007; it wasn't until September 16, 2008, that the Disney Vacation Club officially announced Bay Lake Tower!

~Owners of Bay Lake Tower were able to begin making reservations on February 8, 2009. All other Disney Vacation Club members began making reservations on February 22, 2009.

Studios do not have a washer/dryer, however, the BLT laundry room is located on the first floor. A Key to the World card is required in order to access the laundry room. There are three washers and six dryers.​

* Slight variances exist between Lockoff and Dedicated Two Bedroom Villas. Members reserving a Two Bedroom Villa are assigned to either a Lockoff or Dedicated room at the time the reservations is secured. Contact Disney Vacation Club Member Services to confirm the type of villa reserved.​

For stays of eight or more nights, Full Cleaning Service is provided on day four and Trash & Towel Service is provided on day eight. After that, the cycle begins again on day 12, regardless of whether you're using Member-discounted cash, Vacation Points or a combination of both.

With Full Cleaning service, Housekeeping will provide everything included with the Trash & Towel Service, plus:

Change the bed linens. Vacuum and dust the Vacation Home. Clean the bathroom(s). Clean the kitchen/kitchenette and wash the dishes.

Pay As You Play:

All accommodations offer daily housekeeping service with a 24-hour notice and an additional fee.

With Pay As You Play service, you'll be provided with the following amenities free of charge at the start of your stay. After that, you may purchase more for the following fees:

Well Kook.....thought I would mosey on over since I see you are open for business. New place looks fantastic. Very well decorated with a fabulous floor plan. I think I will pull up a chair and hang out here for a while. Even longer if those rumored discounts come out tomorrow with CR BLV and a 30 or 35% next to the rack rate..... If not, it will just be a short visit here and there to admire the new place